Thoughts on Kentucky Wildcats 2015-2016 Full Basketball Schedule

The SEC released its’ league schedule for men’s basketball yesterday on the SEC Network. The University of Kentucky was then able to turn around and release its’ 2015-2016 Men’s basketball schedule in its’ entirety. After glancing over the full schedule for the first time, the non-conference games that stick out to me are against Duke, Ohio State, Louisville, Kansas, and UCLA. Of those five, I see the Wildcats coming out with a 3-2 record with wins over Duke, Louisville, and Ohio State. Road games at UCLA and Kansas, who will be licking their chops at revenge from last seasons thrashing, will be the only two losses during the out of conference slate.

Tyler Ulis – Photo Credit: Andre’ Chapman/ Analyzed Sports

Kentucky will open up its’ play in the South Eastern Conference on Saturday, January 2, 2016 against the Rebels of Ole Miss in Rupp Arena. Kentucky will play every team in the SEC at least one time this year. Possible hiccups for the young Cats are roads games against LSU, Texas A&M, and Arkansas, which is always a tough place to play. I could see Kentucky losing those three games and dropping one game at home to a Georgia, or Vanderbilt, two teams that gave last year’s 38-1 team fits at home. The Wildcats must be careful with how many games they drop during the conference schedule, because no one knows what the perception of the SEC will be come NCAA Tournament time. The new Wildcats don’t want to find themselves with a double digit loss record, which could spell N.I.T for this group if they’re not careful.

FINAL THOUGHTS

With the Wildcats being led by sophomore guard Tyler Ulis, I don’t see this 2015-2016 Kentucky team going to the N.I.T this year. Although this could be considered a rebuilding year similar to the 2012-2013 year when the Wildcats found themselves ousted in the first round of the N.I.T. to Robert Morris, luckily for this team it doesn’t have Ryan Harrow running the point. Ulis is just that good. I see this Kentucky Wildcats team finishing with a 25-6 regular season record. Can the Cats advance to another Final Four? If Calipari can get this team playing together by March, I don’t see why not considering they could have a possible Sweet 16 and Elite Eight game in the KFC Yum! Center this spring. The Countdown to Big Blue Madness has begun….. What are your thoughts of the schedule?